U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., announced Thursday that she inserted into the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill a provision allowing transit agencies to use up to 10 percent of their federal stimulus funding to pay for operating costs. The money originally was restricted to capital expenses.

"With the economy down and transit ridership up, our transit agencies have been struggling to make ends meet," Murray, chairwoman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, said in a news release. "Many agencies lack the resources to serve our communities and are faced with either cutting services or employees. This provision will ensure that elderly residents, commuters, and families are not left without the transit services they rely on every day. It will also protect jobs, which is the focus of the Recovery Act."

The stimulus bill put $6.9 billion toward transit. That included about $71 million for King County Metro Transit, meaning the new provision would allow Metro to put $7 million toward its operations.

"This is fabulous news," interim King County Executive Kurt Triplett said. "What it allows us to do is keep more service on the road."

Metro has a $168-million budget gap for 2010 and 2011, although auditors recently reported that the agency has $105 million more than it needs in its fleet-replacement fund.

The new federal provision "is not a total solution," Triplett acknowledged. "But it's an incredible help."

"The inclusion of this amendment will allow Pierce Transit to keep valuable service on the street and jobs in our community, while addressing a 15 percent (nearly $10 million) decline in revenue," she said. "This action will give public transportation agencies across the country an important tool to help address the critical loss of operating funds."

The appropriations bill is expected to clear the Senate and get President Obama's signature next week, the news release said.